Promises of the Grey

Authors' Note: Thanks for the reviews. We hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 4

From the ground floor, Sasuke looks up at the slight commotion, still physically paying attention to the attractive Circle mage in his lap. The First Enchanter stood there as the Seeker stormed off. Strange. Few others noticed, but he'd always had rather sharp ears.

Still, he turns his attention back to the mage in his lap, and he pulls her close and whispers in her ear. "You know, if you'd rather have a…longer, slower night, perhaps you would prefer my cousin, Kaito?"

She tilts her head at this. "I rather like you, but if you don't think us compatible...which one is Kaito?"

"The one sitting by the horses in the lower courtyard with his poetry." It was something Sasuke found amusing, but it kept his cousin's idle fingers and bored mind occupied. "He'll have a necklace of eagle feathers and wolves' teeth around his neck, and a string of beads braided into his hair."

"Alright. Thank you." She caresses his cheek. "It's a shame, I would have liked to have fun with you." Still the man appreciated poetry and had a necklace like that? Both an artist and adventurer, the young mage was highly intrigued and bolts off to find this Kaito.

Sasuke watches, just a little entranced as she saunters away. She did have a rather nice backside, but Sasuke had gotten the feeling that she was just a little too…naive for him. She was sweet, but not quite…right? Sasuke generally liked them better with a little more fire.

Was it Hinata's imagination or did the young Warden look her way before sending the other mage off? No wait. It couldn't have been her imagination. He was still looking a bit towards her.

Deciding to take her own advice, Hinata slowly makes her way towards the game. A glance like that was akin to an invitation to join and in the worst case scenario she could pass her entrance off as simple curiosity. "What game are you playing? Is there room for one more?" She smiles at them.

Some strange game of musical chairs, or so it seemed to Sasuke. It was as though the moment he sent off one mage, another arrived to take her place. Sort of "If there is a name for this game, then I believe my brother and cousin would know it better than I." Sasuke rises to his feet and casts a glance back over his shoulder at his brother, whom seemed quite content to play with the Chantry sister in his lap.

"I believe it's known as Wicked Grace. A name that seems entirely fitting given the way this evening is unfolding." Itachi chuckles.

"Yes, because that's what we've been playing for the past ten minutes." Sasuke rolls his eyes and steps away from the table and the abandoned card game. "If you like, you can take my seat for yourself." Sasuke steps aside for the First Enchanter, clearing the way for her to do as she liked.

"That's kind of you to offer, but I couldn't possibly take your seat from you. Where I come from, sharing is a great virtue." She smiles at him, hoping to project an image that wouldn't scandalize the Seeker who had already left too much, if she heard tell of her actions. "Judging by the Sister's reaction, your brother's lap seems quite comfortable. So I imagine yours would be as well."

Maybe it was the ale in him, but Sasuke found the assertion almost…amusing. "You imagine so?" He crosses his arms and leans against one of the wooden beams encircling the stairs. For a moment, he allows his eyes to drift over the beautiful and curvaceous form bound within the flattering robes of a Circle mage. He smirks as his gaze turns up to find her beautiful pale eyes. "And do you also intend to find out whether or not your imaginings are true?" Clearly, she'd seen these games beginning from upstairs. She'd have seen the others throwing themselves at him, his brother, and their cousin.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious, but I imagine that the most I'll garner from the evening is some amusement. Had you been looking for a lover, I imagine you would have snuck off with them now or perhaps already have them over the table." She pauses for a moment. "Assuming the rumors about Wardens are true. But I'm certain as with most tales over the years, they've been greatly embellished."

Sasuke's gaze fills with heat, his lips twitching at the polite, yet brazen boldness of this Orlesian lady. "And I've heard that in Orlais, such dalliances are so common that you could trip over them in the street. Unless those rumors have also been embellished."

"Well, those rumors are only slightly embellished. Most would at least wait until they're inside a building." She steps towards him and wraps her arms around his neck. "Though I suppose even that is somewhat debatable from individual to individual."

"Hn." Sasuke's hands drop to her hips and squeeze the soft flesh between his fingers. He found himself intrigued by her forward nature. VERY intrigued. "You have a lot more fire in you than the other one did." He turns them and steps back towards an empty chair sitting at a respectable distance from his brother. The last thing he needed was Itachi's snickering comments in his ears. Then he sits and pulls the beautiful mage into his lap.

She blushes at his words and the tone in his voice. "Thank you. Would I be correct in assuming that was intended as a compliment? My mother always did warn me not to play with fire...so I suppose it could go either way." He had a beautiful voice naturally. Silken really, but even more when it was husky with flirtation.

Sasuke's smirk hardens wickedly and he pulls her further into his lap, letting her skirts hike up a little as he presses her knees about his hips. "If you're not supposed to play with fire, then what are you doing here in my arms?"

"I loved her dearly, but I'm afraid like most Orlesian children, I was never as good at listening as I should have been." Her face feels as though it was on fire and Hinata knew she was blushing redder than the reddest of rubies, but she was too spellbound to do anything about it.

"Hn, neither have I." He would likely have gotten into a lot less trouble over the years if Sasuke had, at some point, learned to do as he was told. But he was Ferelden, and he had always valued freedom quite highly, even if his duties demanded otherwise. "So…" He chuckles and nips at Hinata's ear. "What amusements did you have in mind tonight?"

She sighs in pleasure at the attention and the pleasant shiver now making its way through her body at the gentle nip. "Quite honestly, I thought I'd admire the view, perhaps hear some heroic tales and enjoy some good ale while beating you at cards. Though this is better."

"Yes…it is." Sasuke's hands slide up her body, mapping out the perfect curves with rough, calloused fingers. And, despite what he would call his 'better judgment' when sober, he moves smoothly to cup Hinata's chin and capture her soft rosy lips in a searing kiss.

Hinata gasps and returns the kiss. If she were being honest, she had never expected the library warden to return her banter as anything more than that. She was more bark than bite when it came to seduction and yet, here she was getting kissed by a handsome warden in front of everyone. There was something exciting about that, especially when his kissing technique was so exceptional.

Sasuke could hear the catcalls and whistles as he thoroughly explores the sweet, soft mouth of the mage who had so willingly fallen into his lap. Like his brother, he'd indulged in a 'dalliance' from time to time, never taking a true lover, but he'd paid enough attention to the stories and…demonstrations of the older wardens to learn all he needed to know about pleasing women. Perhaps not as much as his brother or cousin, but enough. Enough to coax her tongue into a sensual and fiery dance as his hands nearly crush her against him.

Hinata had been kissed before, but never like this. Never as if her partner was truly trying to devour her while ensnaring her in such a seductively possessive hold. "It seems there is some merit to the rumors after all." The thought makes out between their increasingly heated kisses. Hinata had long since stopped caring they weren't actually alone.

"Hn." Sasuke smirks against her lips, both pleased with her words, and challenged by the implications. "More than 'some'." He might not have Garahel's reputation, but he wasn't about to leave a woman wanting. Still, his pride refused to allow him to pleasure her to that extent under his brother's somewhat distracted scrutiny. "Let's find another place tonight."

"I'd say I was worried about my reputation, but everyone is so intoxicated, they'll be lucky to remember their own name by morning." Hinata laughs softly as she traces her fingertips along his cheek. "My chambers are nearby...if you like?"

Sasuke chuckles and runs a hand down the lady's back. "Alright. I don't think they'll miss me anyway."

She smiles and slinks out of his lap before offering Sasuke her hand. "Follow me." Hinata leads Sasuke out of the tavern and up a nearby staircase towards one of the towers. "Mine is the first door on the left." She bites her lower lip at that. It was debatable how much he would care about such information come morning, but still Hinata would say it anyway. Just in case.

Pushing thoughts aside of the future, the mage decides to focus on the far more pleasant present and opens the door. "I hope you'll find it comfortable."

Considering the places Sasuke was used to sleeping in, the modest accommodations were more than acceptable. "I'm sure that I will." He glances at the dimly glowing fireplace. His clothes were thick and warm, but they would most certainly not be providing much warmth from Hinata's floor.

The moment the door is shut behind them, Sasuke's hands pull Hinata firmly back into his arms as he kisses her fiercely. She tasted of sweetmeats from the morning markets and of the rich wine she'd drunk in the tavern.

"Good." Hinata smiles, but then squeaks when he pulls her into his arms suddenly. Though she was far from complaining once he begins to kiss her again. "Mmm. I like it when you kiss me."

Warning Lemon

Sasuke chuckles and presses a kiss to her neck, just above the collar of her robes. "I would hope so." It would be mortifying if she didn't. But as she did, he allows his fingers to unclasp her collar and expose inch after inch of creamy, soft skin for him to kiss.

She closes her eyes and sighs in pleasure at the gesture. His lips against her skin felt incredible. Soothing and erotic all at once, but her hands weren't idle. She reaches for his belts. Even with her eyes closed, it was a relatively simple matter to slide them off of him.

Knowing how difficult it might be for her to divest him of his armor, Sasuke slips open the buckles affixing the armor around his chest and arms. He'd noticed that women seemed to like the armor, until it came time to take it off, as the overlapping pieces could cause annoying problems. But the gauntlets slip off easily enough, freeing the overcoat for removal.

"You must be a mage as well as a Warden." Hinata opens her eyes as she admires the sight of him removing his armor. "Only a mage could get armor that elaborate off so quickly." She giggles.

"Mhm." Sasuke wasn't at all ashamed of being a mage, he just reviled the Circles for the terrible conduct of the Templars. "I have been since I was a child. It got me into all sorts of trouble." He shrugs off the outer layer of armor, slides off his tunic, and steps out of the loosened boots as he deftly unfastens the clasps holding together the upper half of Hinata's robes, baring more of her beautiful skin to his gaze as he lowers the top half to her waist.

She blushes as he opens the top of her robes, baring her breasts to him. Hinata could feel the heat from her blush traveling all the way down from her cheeks to the mounds that he was currently staring at with such a beautiful, predatory intensity.

"I imagine you were actually playing with real fire as a child and drove your mother crazy." She giggles as she nudges him onto the bed and straddles his lap. Mostly so she could hide her blush underneath her curtain of hair, but also because she was curious to see what he would do. "Tell me are you the sort who prefers to turn lovemaking into an art and likes to take his time." She begins sliding his trousers down. "Or are you more of a mighty conqueror who prefers passion and complete obedience from their partner?"

Sasuke smirks and unclasps the elaborate belt from Hinata's own hips, sliding the robes down from her waist and over those voluptuous hips. "A little of both, though obedience has never really been on my mind and I tend to be very impatient." He flips her over onto her back and tugs her robes down to her ankles before sliding them entirely off the bed. He presses a kiss to her ankle, moving slowly up the long, shapely limb.

She giggles at the treatment. "You're very playful." She'd never had someone kiss her ankle and work their way up her leg before. "And such a handful, impatient Warden."

"So I've been told." Sasuke presses a kiss to the sensitive skin behind her knee, before trailing his kisses up her thigh towards his goal. But, stopping just short of that goal, Sasuke smirks and nips her inner thigh, gazing at her with burning desire. "I never did sit still well."

"That's alright. I'm sure you do other things well." Deciding that he seemed to like her breasts, Hinata caresses them and arches encouragingly close to the warden. "Very well, I'm sure."

"Then I suppose there's no harm in letting you be the judge." Sasuke's gaze fixes on the sight of the lovely, creamy mounds. And, letting his hand take the place of his mouth, he kisses his way up her stomach as his fingers tease lightly at the warm, moist folds between her legs. And after he skims his mouth over her fingers, he kisses a pert, rosy nipple and sucks, wrapping his tongue around it and pulling the sensitive flesh between his lips.

"Ah!" Hinata cries out in surprise at the feeling of his hot mouth wrapped around her sensitive nipple and his fingers touching her most intimate place. "I like it w-when you touch me too." She whimpers needily as she toys with her other breast and slides her hand across his stomach, slowly inching her way lower until she grasps his arousal.

Sasuke's hips thrust reflexively, and he nips Hinata's breast lightly in surprised retaliation. Then, his mouth curves into a smirk as he sucks a little harder, leaving a vivid, intimate mark upon the already rosy flesh. "Then I will touch you and have you scream for me." He slips two of his fingers inside of her and works his thumb over the pearl nestled between the folds. His lips fasten around her other nipple and he grazes his teeth over it, nipping a little roughly before soothing it with his tongue.

She strokes him faster and moans in such a way that Hinata almost didn't recognize her own voice. It was far more lewd and wanton than she could ever remember it being. "S-Sasuke!" She could feel herself getting wetter from his soothing and demanding touches. Fire was rushing through her blood as she grows more desperate for him and surrenders to his touches. Hoping that the feeling of her hand against his hard flesh would bring her the same dizzying, addictive pleasure he was giving her.

His fingers press inside of her, rubbing over the place he knew would give her the most pleasure. It varied a little sometimes, but it had grown easier to find with time. He nips and kisses red bruises into her skin, turning her breasts in berry bushes and her stomach into a canvas of stars.

"Ah! Right t-there!" She knew she was half begging, but couldn't stop herself. The feeling of his touch was irresistible. He wasn't even inside her yet and she already felt close. So close.

With a chuckle and a smirk, he presses a last kiss just below her hipbone, and lowers his head to wrap his lips around the little pearl that had swollen to the size of a small berry under his touch.

It was too much and not enough all at once. "SASUKE!" She screams as she surrenders to the glorious sensation of euphoric that now had her firmly in its grasp.

Sasuke stretches his fingers out, widening the slick passage and coating every inch liberally in her ecstasy. Then, knowing that she was ready, he removes his fingers and his lips. He hikes one long, lovely leg over his shoulder and presses his hips between her thighs as he slides himself smoothly inside of her in a single thrust, joining them together as he groans lowly at the tight, wet heat encompassing his manhood.

She cries out in bliss as he fills every part of her and arches back against him desperately. One of her legs twirls over his shoulder and her breasts bounce from the movement. "Sasuke!" It was the only coherent thing she could say as she tries to encourage the man to continue claiming her. She had wanted him before. Now she needed him.

"Hinata…" It's nothing more than a whisper in her ear before he thrusts deeply and powerfully inside of her. His muscles flex and relax, propelling the pleasure higher with every motion. Her cries and screams were music, and Sasuke the musician, with every practiced motion producing a new symphony of sound for him to hear.

She moans, no longer caring what she sounded like as she tries to move in sync with her new lover. She screams his name over and over again as she rolls her hips, reveling in the sensation of skin against skin and the warmth of his breath on her ear.

Waves of pleasure begin rippling through Sasuke. But he persists in driving the beautiful woman enveloping him further towards the edge of the pleasurable oblivion he knew awaited. He could feel the way she pulsed and spasmed around him, inviting him deeper and deeper until there was nowhere else to go. He pants hotly in her ear, the fire within him consuming all thoughts but her name. "Hinata!"

For the second time that night, Hinata could swear she saw stars as something glorious rushes through her body and she screams. Never before had she felt something like that. It was all she could do to capture his lips in a heated kiss to prevent herself from screaming his name to the high heavens again.

His hips thrust still, even as he softens slightly. Sasuke ignores the nearly painful pleasure as he succumbs to the kiss once more. The intoxicating kiss that leaves even him nearly breathless as his passion pours out and the last threads of his patience snap. It was wondrous and it felt right, and he could march on into oblivion with the smell of lavender tickling his senses.

End of Lemon

Sasuke pulls on his boots, then takes a steaming cloth from where he'd hung it over the edge of a basin filled with heated water. His muscles ached slightly as he stretched them out and cleaned the sweat from his chest and arms.

He glances back at the beautiful mage, laying rosy-cheeked and fast asleep in her bed. It was nearly dawn now, and the stars were dimming in the sky as the dark of night brightened to the soft purple and gold hues he'd seen more times than he cared to count. But it was she that was truly beautiful. Beautiful…and so much more than he could ever deserve.

With another dip of the cloth into the warm water, Sasuke does his best to make himself at least somewhat presentable. Though it would be no secret to any of the other Wardens, least of all his brother, just what he'd been up to that night.

He glances back at her once more and sighs, then starts as pale eyes begin to open, gazing at him with a glazed look still within them. And he can't help but smile, just a little. "It's not even dawn yet."

"I know." She smiles at him as she watches the Warden attempt to look presentable. "So you should come back to bed. They're either all nursing hangovers or too caught up in their own trysts to worry about us."

Sasuke hesitates, knowing the foolishness of getting attached. Staying long in the morning made it all the more difficult to leave. Still, he acquiesces and slides off his boots before returning underneath the sheets. "I didn't think you'd be up until nearly midday."

"I know you didn't." She sighs as she rests her head on his shoulder. "I knew you were likely to leave me as soon as morning came. I'm not...a naive Chantry sister." She knew better than this. Hinata really did. "I know Wardens have good reasons to leave before they can get attached. I don't expect you to stay forever, but is there really any harm in staying until at least the sun rises?"

There could be, if Sasuke succumbed to his own weaknesses. But he wouldn't say as much. Not in front of this woman. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt." He strokes her cheek and brushes her hair behind her ear. "…You know what I am, what I do."

"Mhm and it's very brave of you." She relaxes against his gentle touches. "I'm not under any delusions. You don't have to feel guilty." She closes her eyes to hide the tears that were threatening to spill. "I understand. You never lied to me and it is a wonderful night. I know you'll have to go eventually, but at least we'll always have that."

Sasuke could see the tears beading behind her eyelashes. Instantly, he regretted stepping into her bed, because now she would be hurt by it. "I suppose that's true." He tries to smile, despite the budding pain in his chest. "Did I at least measure up to everything you expected?"

"You more than measured up." Hinata laughs despite everything. "A true credit to your vocation. I can see the tales weren't embellished in the slightest."

"Hn." Despite his reservations, Sasuke smirks smugly. "And it seems that the Circle taught you something useful, at least." He'd probably have scratches and bruises on his back for days thanks to the third and fourth rounds. "Shisui did mention how convenient the robes could be."

"If you wanted...I could heal those for you." It was her job, after all. "I don't mind wearing your affection though." Like him, it would fade out of her life soon enough. So she didn't see the harm in cherishing the physical reminder of their night together for awhile longer. "I'm a spirit healer."

Sasuke shrugs off the notion easily. "It's fine, I've had worse than a few little scratches and bruises. At least these ones were fun to get." Some of the other scars on his person, less so. But that was just part of the danger in being a Grey Warden. "I would have offered to heal some of yours…" Including the limp that she was going to have all day. "But I'm afraid that I've never had a talent for healing. Only for fire and lightning."

"I'd say that you have more talents than that." She smiles slyly at Sasuke and kisses him. "I know you have to go. I will miss you. Perhaps in another life...we could have had more time together. In a better world?"

"Maybe." Sasuke didn't like to think about that much. After all, he'd made his choices, and there was no going back. "But…this life is what's best for me. If the Blight hadn't come and I hadn't become a Warden, I would have ended up imprisoned in a Circle and probably made Tranquil. They would have called me willful, stubborn, and unpredictable. Knowing that…being a Warden would still be my choice."

"Would you prefer it if we were not to cross paths until you left or to spend every moment together we can?" She sighs as she caresses his cheek. "Both options have their merits." He was right of course. Sasuke was a Warden. It was a dangerous job, but he clearly had found his path. She wouldn't try to take that from him. Besides, one couldn't leave the Grey. It was for life.

He could hear the unspoken questions within the question proper, and Sasuke stills for a moment, contemplating the implications. "My brother has said…that it takes a very special woman to care for someone who they know will one day leave them and never return." And Itachi was right, because that was too much to ask of anyone who wasn't a Warden.

"Your brother is right. It would take a very special person to love someone under those circumstances." Hinata sighs as she caresses his cheek. "It'd also take a special person to live with the guilt of putting their loved one through such uncertainty."

She presses a soft promise of a kiss against his lips. "I know you can't promise me forever, but promise me that you'll at least try to survive long enough for it to be a possibility." Hinata wanted to be realistic. She truly did, but the impulse to tempt him into staying was powerful. He could reasonably live for at least ten years, maybe even thirty. That wouldn't be far though. "If you survive whatever they ask of you and come back to Skyhold, perhaps by then, we'll have a cure." Sasuke could no more sit around and not fight darkspawn than she could not use magic. It was just part of who they were.

Still, there was a chance that he could be saved. That many Wardens could. She'd cling to that. She was an exceptional Spirit Healer. Perhaps it was time to put her talents to better use. How many people had really tried to find a cure that had her talents? Maybe she wouldn't be successful, but she could at least try.

"Hn." Sasuke's expression softens and he snorts quietly as he sits up and tucks the sheets in around Hinata. "As if a few darkspawn could take me down. I'll light them on fire and have them running back to their alpha before they get the chance." He reaches for his boots and slides them back on, the his tunic, not minding that she could see the scars in the sunlight that came with the years of battle he'd grown up in.

"I'm glad to hear that." She smiles at him. "I'll hope that you return. If you do not...I will know you tried. There is no need for any guilt between you and I."

Sasuke looks back over his shoulder and smiles. "Thank you." Then he stands and reaches for his armor, pulling on the scale-armored tunic first, the belt for his staff, then the armored overcoat and the belts that held pouches for lyrium draughts, in case the battle grew intense. "But I'll be back. You can't get rid of me that easily."

"I hope not." She smiles. It wasn't a concrete promise, but it was something.

After tugging on his gloves, Sasuke turns, already almost fully equipped for battle. "…You're very strong." The corner of his mouth turns up slightly. "For an Orlesian."

"Thank you. Though you seemed to like Orlesian strength well enough last night." She laughs.

"Hn." Sasuke's smirk heats a little. "I was persuaded." And for a moment, he contemplated things he'd never really contemplated before. What would it be like to court her properly? He was a Warden and she was a mage. It would hardly be conventional, but maybe…maybe they could figure something out.